I've been deconstructing old fences off the farm lately, and there is a part of me that feels like I'm smearing the paint of a Picasso work. The men before me spent their caloric energy crafting these barriers to keep their protein in. I'd imagine I'm overstating the task and that to them, putting up a fence in the July heat was anything but nostalgic and only a necessary part of livestocking. But hey, that's creative writing, right? Overstating the simplicities of life.
As I'm removing these sometimes archaic fences, I'll admire the style and strategy of the cattlemen. The way they configured the wire, the type of wood they chose for their posts, and how they strung it all together was dealer's choice to the man holding the fencing tool.
Fun aside, below is my favorite utensil I've found going through my dad's old fencing tool bucket. Give me this and a roll of duct tape, and I'll build you a boat and run the electrical to your house in an hour.
With institutional country knowledge comes knowing which types of wood are good for specific purposes. Pine burns great, has a lot of flame, but goes quicker than other tree fuel. The interior of a Cedar will be there in 100 years. They use Ash trees to make baseball bats. White oak is the primary wood for whiskey barrels. The list goes on.
Before the advent of steel posts, this arbor intel was important when selecting fence posts. To avoid frequently digging a new hole and replacing posts, choosing the right wood post saved a farmer future energy. To that point, in the Midwest, a common tree used for fence posts is and was Osage Orange.
This tree tends to grow quickly, somewhat horizontally, and features thorny branches, so before barbed wire became a thing, they used these trees as a natural barrier for hedgerows. For this reason, you'll hear people call their large, round, green fruit Hedge Apples.
In the 17th century, those crazy Frenchmen called the tree 'Bois d'Arc,' meaning 'Wood of the Bow,' referencing the fact that the Osage Indians liked the trees for building their bows. In a nutshell, we landbreakers have found the Osage Orange to be a hardy and useful tree.
As I perform my hobby-farmer duties around the farm, I like to identify trees, especially when I have to cut one down. To me, timber management should be done thoughtfully and as a sign of respect; at least know who you're dealing with when running a chainsaw.
We'll never know, and that's the fun part. Having a cup of coffee, staring out the window, and simply wondering. Stay creative, stay curious, my friends.
New in my life: Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. Close calls train puppies. Sunspots and sunshirts are a new-age pirate's way of life.
Keep smilin'
Joe
